Motorized Camera Housing with Arc Deployment for Smart TV
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video camera systems integrated into flat panel televisions lack automatic deployment and stowage mechanisms, and often suffer from image quality issues due to the distance between the camera and subjects, leading to lower-quality images and privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
A video system that includes a video display with a camera compartment and a motor-actuated camera housing that can be automatically deployed and stowed, featuring a dust cover mechanism and the ability to rotate for adjusting viewing angles, along with multiple cameras arranged in arrays for improved image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single-element consumer-grade camera is used at typical seating distance (ten feet), then the device complexity is low, but the image quality deteriorates due to limitations of the small image sensor, lens, and available light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single camera system into multiple camera elements (camera array) to overcome the limitations of a single consumer-grade camera. By segmenting the imaging function across multiple sensors, the system achieves improved image quality and effective optical zoom without requiring a complex single-lens telephoto system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds multiple camera elements within a compact housing that integrates with the television display. The camera array is nested within the display structure, allowing multiple cameras to be accommodated in a space-constrained environment while maintaining a simple overall device form factor.
2Manufacturing precision
If an optical telephoto lens is employed to improve image quality at distance, then the image quality improves, but the wide angle views of entire family sitting on sofa are compromised and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple camera elements that can be dynamically activated based on the required field of view. The system can switch between using individual cameras for close-up views and multiple cameras simultaneously for wide-angle views, providing adaptability without requiring a single complex variable-focus lens.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on a single lens with variable focal length, the patent adds a spatial dimension by arranging multiple camera elements in an array. This allows the system to achieve different effective fields of view by selectively combining images from multiple cameras, effectively creating virtual focal length changes through spatial arrangement rather than optical manipulation.
3Ease of operation
If the camera is permanently exposed, then the camera is always ready for use, but privacy concerns increase and dust contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a camera housing that automatically deploys the camera elements into an exposed position when video conferencing or recording is initiated, and automatically retracts them into a concealed position when not in use. This preliminary automation of deployment and retraction eliminates the need for manual operation while ensuring privacy protection when the camera is not actively being used.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is integrated with the television's operating system to automatically detect when video conferencing applications are active and autonomously deploy the camera elements. The system self-manages the exposure and retraction cycles based on application state, eliminating the need for separate manual control while ensuring the camera is ready precisely when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides enhanced privacy through automatic camera deployment and stowage, improves image quality by accommodating varying distances and lighting conditions, and offers versatile viewing angles and composite imaging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The dust cover comprises a cam follower surface. The video system also comprises a video camera in a camera housing, wherein the camera housing defines a cam surface and is selectively retractable into and deployable from the recess. A motor enclosed is provided in the recess and operatively connected to the camera housing, wherein the motor is selectively energizable to traverse the camera housing along an arc path such that the camera housing cam surface engages the dust cover cam follower surface to displace the dust cover and allow the camera housing to exit the camera compartment.
Data Source
AI summary
Video display systems comprising a video display and a camera assembly are shown and described. In one example, video cameras may be stowed in and deployed from a compartment proximate the upper surface of the display and configured to deploy in an arc-like motion and for rotation about a center of the video camera housing itself. In other examples, video cameras may be aligned with openings in the frame of the television screen and operatively connected to shutter plates that selectively admit light to or block light from the camera. In a further example, video cameras may be provided on motorized mounts that are attached to the frame to collect multiple images for video processing tasks to enhance the video image in a variety of ways.